Attorney: Flight attendant unaware of gun in bag

CHICAGO – An attorney for an American Airlines flight attendant arrested at O'Hare International Airport said the woman did not know there was a gun in her carry-on luggage.

Sheila Schultz of Palatine was arrested Friday when security screeners found the gun in an X-ray machine.

Defense attorney David Studenroth said the woman's husband inadvertently left the fully loaded .22 caliber revolver in the bag and that Schultz had no idea it was there when she went through the O'Hare security checkpoint.

Schultz is charged with trying to board an aircraft with a weapon and possessing a firearm without a valid firearm owner's identification card.

She has been an airline employee for 44 years and has no prior arrest record.

Schultz was released on bail Saturday. Her next court appearance is Friday.